Method, Apparatus, and System for Selecting Public Land Mobile Network

ABSTRACT

The embodiments of the present invention relate to a method, an apparatus, and a system for selecting a public land mobile network. In an embodiment method an eNodeB acquires PLMN information about a CSFB. The eNodeB then determines a target cell of a packet switching handover according to the PLMN information about the CSFB.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/709,704, filed on Dec. 10, 2012, which is a continuation ofInternational Application No. PCT/CN2010/073767, filed on Jun. 10, 2010.All of the afore-mentioned patent applications are hereby incorporatedby reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of mobile communicationstechnologies, and in particular, to a method, an apparatus, and a systemfor selecting a public land mobile network (PLMN for short).

BACKGROUND

An evolved universal mobile telecommunication system territorial radioaccess network (E-UTRAN for short) and an evolved packet core network(EPC for short) form an evolved packet system (EPS for short). Manyservices of operators are run in the 2G/3G circuit switching (CS forshort) domain. To reuse the existing CS domain services in an EPSnetwork, it is proposed to connect to the CS domain core network throughthe EPS network so that a user equipment (UE for short) is able toinitiate and receive CS services in the EPS network and return to the2G/3G network through the E-UTRAN to perform the CS services. Thenetwork architecture and processing method may be called circuitswitching fallback (CSFB for short).

During the execution of the CSFB procedure, the UE executes the combinedattach or combined tracking area update procedure in the E-UTRAN toregister with the mobile switching center/visitor location register(MSC/VLR for short) of CS core network devices from the EPS network. Inthe process, a mobility management entity (MME for short) selects aproper MSC/VLR. At this time, according to commercial settings of theoperator, the MME may select an MSC/VLR that has a public land mobilenetwork identity (PLMN ID) different from that of the EPS network towhich the UE is attached. Next, the UE executes the CSFB process to fallback to the 2G/3G network and access the PLMN where the MSC/VLR islocated, thereby completing subsequent CS domain services.

One method for executing the CSFB process to fall back to the 2G/3G isas follows: An evolved base station (eNodeB for short) executes a packetswitching handover (PS HO for short) procedure to select a proper target2G/3G cell for the UE to complete CSFB processing, where the cell ismarked with a cell identity (Cell ID), and the cell ID includesinformation about the PLMN to which the cell belongs, that is, the CellID includes the PLMN ID. However, the eNodeB is not able to perceive thePLMN ID of the MSC/VLR selected by the MME in the combined attach orcombined tracking area update procedure. At this time, the PLMN ID ofthe target cell selected by the eNodeB may be different from the PLMN IDof the MSC/VLR selected by the MME so that the handover target 2G/3Gcell selected for the UE by the eNodeB may belong to other PLMNs. Inthis case, when the UE camps to the target 2G/3G cell, as the PLMN ischanged, the cell is served by another MSC/VLR. As a result, the UEneeds to register with the new MSC/VLR by executing the location areaupdate (Location Area Update, LAU for short) procedure before performingthe CS service. In the case of being a called party/call termination, aroaming retry procedure further needs to be executed for this newMSC/VLR and the MSC/VLR previously registered by the UE to complete thecalled procedure. The additional location area update and roaming retryprocedures increase the processing delay of the CSFB procedure, andreduces the service success rate and user experience.

SUMMARY

The embodiments of the present invention provide a method, an apparatus,and a system for selecting a public land mobile network (PLMN for short)to avoid an additional processing delay of the CSFB procedure causedwhen an eNodeB selects a different PLMN for failing to perceive the PLMNwhere the MSC/VLR attached in the EPS network by the UE in the CSFBprocedure, and improve the service success rate.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for selecting apublic land mobile network. An eNodeB acquires PLMN information about aCSFB and determines a target cell of a packet switching handoveraccording to the PLMN information about the CSFB.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides an evolved basestation. An acquisition module is configured to acquire PLMN informationabout a CSFB. A determination module is configured to determine a targetcell of a packet switching handover according to the PLMN informationabout the CSFB.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a mobilitymanagement network element, including a providing module that isconfigured to provide PLMN information about a CSFB to an eNodeB so thatthe eNodeB determines a target cell of a packet switching handover.

An embodiment of the present invention still further provides a systemfor selecting a public land mobile network, including a mobilitymanagement network element, configured to provide PLMN information abouta CSFB, and an evolved base station, configured to acquire PLMNinformation about the CSFB and determine a target cell of a packetswitching handover according to the PLMN information about the CSFB.

It may be known from the technical solutions that in the embodiments ofthe present invention, an eNodeB acquires PLMN information about a CSFB,so that the eNodeB determines a target cell of a packet switchinghandover according to the acquired PLMN information about the CSFB, andswitches to the PLMN where the MSC/VLR attached by the UE in the EPSnetwork is located, thereby avoiding an additional processing delay ofthe CSFB procedure caused when an eNodeB selects a different PLMN forfailing to perceive the PLMN where the MSC/VLR attached by the UE in theEPS network is located in the CSFB procedure, and improving the servicesuccess rate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To illustrate the technical solutions according to the embodiments ofthe present invention or in the prior art more clearly, the accompanyingdrawings for describing the embodiments or the prior art are introducedbriefly in the following. Apparently, the accompanying drawings in thefollowing description are only some embodiments of the presentinvention, and persons of ordinary skill in the art can derive otherdrawings from the accompanying drawings without creative efforts.

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method for selecting a public land mobilenetwork according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method for selecting a public land mobilenetwork according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method for selecting a public land mobilenetwork according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method for selecting a public land mobilenetwork according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method for selecting a public land mobilenetwork according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a structural schematic diagram of an evolved NodeB accordingto Embodiment 6 of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a structural schematic diagram of a mobility managementnetwork element according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a structural schematic diagram of a system for selecting apublic land mobile network according to Embodiment 8 of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The technical solution of the present invention will be described in thefollowing with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is obviousthat the embodiments to be described are only a part rather than all ofthe embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtainedby persons skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the presentinvention without creative efforts shall fall within the protectionscope of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method for selecting a public land mobilenetwork according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 1, the method for selecting the public land mobile networkaccording to this embodiment may include the following steps.

Step 101: An eNodeB acquires PLMN information about a CSFB.

Step 102: The eNodeB determines a target cell of a PS HO according tothe PLMN information about the CSFB.

In this embodiment, the eNodeB acquires the PLMN information about theCSFB, so that the eNodeB determines the target cell of the packetswitching handover according to the acquired PLMN information about theCSFB, and switches to the PLMN where the MSC/VLR attached in the EPSnetwork by the UE is located, thereby avoiding an additional processingdelay of the CSFB procedure caused when an eNodeB selects a differentPLMN for failing to perceive the PLMN where the MSC/VLR attached by theUE in the EPS network is located in the CSFB procedure, and improvingthe service success rate.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method for selecting a public land mobilenetwork according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Thisembodiment is applicable to the scenario where a UE initiates a CSFBcall (that is, CSFB calling) in an EPS network. As shown in FIG. 2, themethod for selecting the public land mobile network according to thisembodiment may include the following steps.

Step 201: The UE sends an extended service request message to an MME,where the message includes a CSFB indication indicating that the UEintends to execute a CSFB.

Step 202: The MME sends an S1 interface application protocol (Si-AP)request message to an eNodeB, where the message includes PLMNinformation about the CSFB selected in the CSFB procedure.

The PLMN information about the CSFB in the CSFB procedure refers to theinformation about the PLMN to which the MSC/VLR selected for the UE bythe MME belongs, for example, the PLMN identity (PLMN ID) of the PLMN towhich the MSC/VLR belongs.

The Si-AP request message sent by the MME to the eNodeB includes thePLMN information about the CSFB. The specific implementation mayinclude, but is not limited to, the following modes.

A. The PLMN information about the CSFB is an independent parameter inthe Si-AP request message, which may exist separately, or may also be apart of an existing parameter in the Si-AP request message, for example,may be included in a handover restriction list parameter.

B. The PLMN information about the CSFB is indirectly provided to theeNodeB through other parameters. For example, the MME may include alocation area identity (LAI) parameter in the Si-AP request message toreflect the PLMN information. The PLMN ID included in the LAI parameteris the PLMN ID of the CS selected by the MME. The LAI parameter may alsobe included in a handover restriction list parameter of the Si-APrequest message.

C. The PLMN information about the CSFB may be included in an equivalentPLMN (E-PLMN for short) list. For example, the PLMN information aboutthe CSFB selected by the MME is placed as the first in the equivalentPLMN list, and the eNodeB first chooses to use this PLMN, therebyensuring that the eNodeB is able to select this PLMN as the targetnetwork subsequently. An independent indication (for example, selectedPLMN for CS) may also be used in the Si-AP request message to indicatethat the PLMN information about the CSFB is included in the equivalentPLMN list, or indicate which PLMN in the E-PLMN list is the PLMN of theCS.

In this step, the Si-AP request message may specifically be an initialcontext setup request (INITIAL CONTEXT SETUP REQUEST) message, or mayalso be a UE context modification request (UE CONTEXT MODIFICATIONREQUEST) message.

Step 203: The eNodeB sends an Si-AP response message to the MME.

Step 204: The eNodeB determines a target cell of a PS HO according tothe PLMN information about the CSFB. That is, the eNodeB selects thePLMN corresponding to the PLMN information about the CSFB as the targetPLMN of the PS HO, so as to select a target cell in the correspondingtarget PLMN.

In this step, the eNodeB may determine the target cell of the packetswitching handover according to the PLMN information about the CSFB inthe following ways.

The eNodeB may select an RNC in the PLMN corresponding to the PLMNinformation about the CSFB as the target of the packet switchinghandover.

Alternatively, the eNodeB may select a cell in the PLMN corresponding tothe PLMN information about the CSFB as the target cell of the packetswitching handover.

In this step, when a target network of the handover is a 3G or UTRAN,the eNodeB includes the PLMN information about the CSFB in a target RNC(radio network controller) identity (Target RNC ID), and specifically,includes the PLMN ID in a LAI parameter of the target RNC ID; when thetarget network of the handover is a 2G or GSM EDGE Radio Access Network(GERAN, where GSM stands for Global System for Mobile Communications,originally Groupe Special Mobile and EDGE stands for Enhanced Data ratesfor GSM Evolution), the eNodeB includes the PLMN information about theCSFB in a target cell global identification (CGI), and specifically,includes the PLMN ID in a PLMN ID parameter of the target CGI.

Step 203 and step 204 are not subject to an execution sequence.

Step 205: The eNodeB executes the PS HO procedure to migrate the UE tothe 2G/3G network.

Step 206: The UE completes the subsequent CSFB procedure after beingswitched to the target cell, which is not described herein again.

In this embodiment, the eNodeB selects the PLMN corresponding to thePLMN information about the CSFB for the CS domain service as the targetPLMN of the PS HO, so that the UE migrates to the 2G/3G network in thetarget PLMN, the triggering of execution of the LAU procedure may beavoided, the processing delay of the CSFB procedure is reduced, and theservice success rate is improved.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method for selecting a public land mobilenetwork according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Thisembodiment is applicable to the scenario where a UE receives a CSFB call(that is, CSFB called or CSFB call termination) in an EPS network. Asshown in FIG. 3, the method for selecting the public land mobile networkaccording to this embodiment may include the following steps.

Step 301: The MSC/VLR receives voice call signaling and sends a pagingmessage to the MME.

Step 302: The MME sends the paging message to the UE.

Step 303: The UE sends an extended service request message to an MME,where the message includes a CSFB indication indicating that the UEintends to execute a CSFB.

Step 304: The MME sends an S1 interface application protocol (Si-AP)request message to an eNodeB, where the message includes PLMNinformation about the CSFB selected in the CSFB procedure.

The PLMN information about the CSFB in the CSFB procedure refers to theinformation about the PLMN to which the MSC/VLR selected for the UE bythe MME belongs, for example, PLMN identity (PLMN ID) of the PLMN towhich the MSC/VLR belongs. The specific implementation methods forincluding the PLMN information about the CSFB in the Si-AP requestmessage sent by the MME to the eNodeB may be referred to the relevantcontent in step 202 in the previous embodiment, and are not describedherein again.

In this step, the Si-AP request message may specifically be an initialcontext setup request (INITIAL CONTEXT SETUP REQUEST) message, or mayalso be a UE context modification request (UE CONTEXT MODIFICATIONREQUEST) message.

Step 305: The eNodeB sends an Si-AP response message to the MME.

Step 306: The eNodeB determines a target cell of a PS HO according tothe PLMN information about the CSFB, that is, the eNodeB selects thePLMN corresponding to the PLMN information about the CSFB as the targetPLMN of the PS HO, and thereby selects a target cell in thecorresponding target PLMN.

The specific implementation may be referred to the relevant content instep 204 in the previous embodiment, and is not described herein again.

Step 305 and step 306 are not subject to an execution sequence.

Step 307: The eNodeB executes the PS HO procedure to migrate the UE tothe 2G/3G network.

Step 308: The UE completes the subsequent CSFB procedure after beingswitched to the target cell, which is not described herein again.

In this embodiment, the eNodeB selects the PLMN corresponding to thePLMN information about the CSFB for the CS domain service as the targetPLMN of the PS HO, so that the UE migrates to the 2G/3G network in thetarget PLMN, the triggering of execution of the LAU procedure and theroaming retry procedure may be avoided, the processing delay of the CSFBprocedure is reduced, and the service success rate is improved.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method for selecting a public land mobilenetwork according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. Differentfrom Embodiment 2 of the present invention and Embodiment 3 of thepresent invention, which are applicable to scenarios where the MMEprovides the PLMN information about the CSFB to the eNodeB in the callprocess (including calling and called), this embodiment is applicable tothe scenario where, after selecting an MSC/VLR in the combined EPS/IMSIattach/combined tracking area update procedure, the MME provides thePLMN information about the CSFB where the selected MSC/VLR is located tothe eNodeB. As shown in FIG. 4, the method for selecting the public landmobile network according to this embodiment may include the followingsteps.

Step 401: The UE sends an attach request message/tracking area updaterequest (TAU Request) message to the MME, where the attach type in theattach request message indicates that it is a combined attach request(combined EPS/IMSI attach Request) or the update type in the trackingarea update request indicates that it is a combined trackingarea/location area update request, or combined tracking area/locationarea update with IMSI attach request.

Step 402: Execute the combined attach/combined tracking area updateprocedure of the EPS network, for example, a default bearer isestablished in the attach procedure.

Step 403: The MME executes the location update procedure to the MSC/VLRaccording to the attach type indication in the attach request message,and the MSC/VLR executes corresponding CS location update processing,for example, registers the UE with the HLR/HSS.

In this step, the MME selects a proper MSC/VLR according to theinformation such as an operator policy, where, the PLMN (that is, thePLMN for the CS) to which the MSC/VLR selected by the MME belongs may bedifferent from the PLMN to which the MME belongs.

Step 404: The MME sends an S1 interface application protocol (Si-AP)request message to an eNodeB, where the message includes PLMNinformation about the CSFB selected in the CSFB procedure.

In this step, the Si-AP request message may specifically be an initialcontext setup request (INITIAL CONTEXT SETUP REQUEST) message, or mayalso be a downlink non access stratum transport (DOWNLINK NAS TRANSPORT)message. The attach accept message/TAU accept message sent by the MME tothe UE may be encapsulated in the Si-AP request message.

The PLMN information about the CSFB is the information about the PLMN towhich the MSC/VLR selected by the MME for the UE in step 403 belongs,for example, the PLMN identity (PLMN ID) of the PLMN to which theMSC/VLR belongs. The specific implementation method for the PLMNinformation about the CSFB in the Si-AP request message may be referredto the relevant content in step 202 in Embodiment 2 of the presentinvention, and is not described herein again.

Step 405: The eNodeB sends a radio resource connection (RRC for short)request message to the UE, where the RRC message may include the attachaccept message/TAU accept message sent by the MME to the UE.

Step 406: The UE sends an RRC acknowledgment completion message to theeNodeB.

Step 407: The eNodeB sends an Si-AP response message to the MME tocomplete the combined EPS/IMSI attach/combined tracking area updateprocedure, which is not described herein.

In this embodiment, the MME provides the PLMN information about the CSFBselected for the CS domain service in the combined attach/combinedtracking area update procedure to the eNodeB, and during the subsequentexecution of the CSFB procedure (for example, CSFB calling or CSFBcalled), the eNodeB may select the PLMN corresponding to the PLMNinformation about the CSFB as the target PLMN of the PS HO, so that theUE migrates to the 2G/3G network in the target PLMN, the triggering ofexecution of the LAU procedure and the roaming retry procedure may beavoided, the processing delay of the CSFB procedure is reduced, and theservice success rate is improved.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method for selecting a public land mobilenetwork according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. Differentfrom Embodiment 2 of the present invention and Embodiment 3 of thepresent invention, which are applicable to scenarios where the MMEprovides the PLMN information about the CSFB to the eNodeB in the callprocess (including calling and called), this embodiment is applicable tothe scenario where, before a call, the MME provides the PLMN informationabout the CSFB selected in the service request process to the eNodeB. Asshown in FIG. 5, the method for selecting the public land mobile networkaccording to this embodiment may include the following steps.

Step 501: The UE sends a service request message to the MME.

Step 502: The MME sends an Si-AP request message to an eNodeB, where themessage includes PLMN information about the CSFB selected in the CSFBprocedure.

In this step, the Si-AP request message may specifically be an initialcontext setup equest (INITIAL CONTEXT SETUP REQUEST) message.

The PLMN information about the CSFB is the information about the PLMN towhich the MSC/VLR selected by the MME for the UE belongs in the combinedattach/combined tracking area update procedure, for example, PLMNidentity (PLMN ID) of the PLMN to which the MSC/VLR belongs. Thespecific implementation method for the PLMN information about the CSFBin the Si-AP request message may be referred to the relevant content instep 202 in Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and is not describedherein again.

Step 503: The eNodeB sends an Si-AP response message to the MME tocomplete the service request procedure, which is not described herein.

In this step, the Si-AP response message may specifically be an initialcontext setup complete (INITIAL CONTEXT SETUP COMPLETE) message.

In this embodiment, the MME provides the PLMN information about the CSFBselected for the CS domain service to the eNodeB, and subsequently theeNodeB may select the PLMN corresponding to the PLMN information aboutthe CSFB as the target PLMN of the PS HO, so that the UE migrates to the2G/3G network in the target PLMN, the triggering of execution of the LAUprocedure and the roaming retry procedure may be avoided, the processingdelay of the CSFB procedure is reduced, and the service success rate isimproved.

It should be noted that for ease of description, the method embodimentsare expressed as a series of action combinations. However, those skilledin the art should know that, the present invention is not limited to thedescribed action sequences because certain steps according to thepresent invention may be executed in other sequences or at the sametime. Secondly, those skilled in the art should know that, all theembodiments described in the specification are exemplary embodiments,and the involved actions or modules are not necessarily essential in thepresent invention.

In the embodiments, the description of each embodiment has its emphasis.For those parts that are not described in detail in a certainembodiment, refer to the relevant descriptions in other embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a structural schematic diagram of an evolved base stationaccording to Embodiment 6 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6,the evolved base station according to this embodiment may include anacquisition module 61 and a determination module 62. The acquisitionmodule 61 acquires PLMN information about the CSFB, and thedetermination module 62 determines a target cell of a packet switchinghandover according to the PLMN information about the CSFB acquired bythe acquisition module 61.

The functions of the eNodeB in Embodiment 1 of the present invention,the eNodeB in Embodiment 2 of the present invention, the eNodeB inEmbodiment 3 of the present invention, the eNodeB in Embodiment 4 of thepresent invention, and the eNodeB in Embodiment 5 of the presentinvention may all be implemented by the evolved base station provided inthis embodiment.

In this embodiment, the acquisition module acquires the PLMN informationabout the CSFB, and the determination module determines the target cellof the packet switching handover according to the acquired PLMNinformation about the CSFB, so as to switch to the PLMN where theMSC/VLR attached by the UE in the EPS network is located, therebyavoiding an additional processing delay of the CSFB procedure causedwhen an eNodeB selects a different PLMN for failing to perceive the PLMNwhere the MSC/VLR attached by the UE in the EPS network is located inthe CSFB procedure, and improving the service success rate.

Further, the acquisition module 61 in this embodiment may specificallyacquire the PLMN information about the CSFB through the followingmethods.

A. Receive an Si-AP request message sent by an MME, where the Si-APrequest message includes a PLMN identity.

B. Alternatively, receive an Si-AP request message sent by an MME, wherethe Si-AP request message includes a location area identity, and thelocation area identity includes a PLMN identity.

C. Alternatively, receive an Si-AP request message sent by an MME, wherethe Si-AP request message includes an equivalent PLMN list or theequivalent PLMN list and indication information indicating a selectedPLMN for the CS.

Furthermore, the determination module 62 in this embodiment mayspecifically select the PLMN corresponding to the PLMN information aboutthe CSFB as the target PLMN of the packet switching handover, and selecta target cell in the corresponding target PLMN, or may further firstselect the PLMN corresponding to the PLMN information about the CSFB asthe target PLMN of the packet switching handover, and select a targetcell in the corresponding target PLMN.

FIG. 7 is a structural schematic diagram of a mobility managementnetwork element according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention. Asshown in FIG. 7, the mobility management network element in thisembodiment may include a providing module 71, configured to provide PLMNinformation about a CSFB to an eNodeB so that the eNodeB determines atarget cell of a packet switching handover.

The functions of the MME in Embodiment 2 of the present invention, theMME in Embodiment 3 of the present invention, the MME in Embodiment 4 ofthe present invention, and the MME in Embodiment 5 of the presentinvention may all be implemented by the mobility management networkelement provided in this embodiment.

In this embodiment, the providing module provides the PLMN informationabout the CSFB to the eNodeB, and the eNodeB determines the target cellof the packet switching handover according to the acquired PLMNinformation about the CSFB, so as to switch to the PLMN where theMSC/VLR attached by the UE in the EPS network is located, therebyavoiding an additional processing delay of the CSFB procedure causedwhen an eNodeB selects a different PLMN for failing to perceive the PLMNwhere the MSC/VLR attached by the UE in the EPS network is located inthe CSFB procedure, and improving the service success rate.

Furthermore, the providing module 71 in this embodiment may specificallyprovide the PLMN information about the CSFB through the followingmethods.

A. Send an Si-AP request message to the eNodeB, where the Si-AP requestmessage includes a PLMN identity.

B. Alternatively, send an Si-AP request message sent to the eNodeB,where the Si-AP request message includes a location area identity, andthe location area identity includes a PLMN identity.

C. Alternatively, send an Si-AP request message to the eNodeB, where theSi-AP request message includes an equivalent PLMN list or the equivalentPLMN list and indication information that indicates a selected PLMN forthe CS.

FIG. 8 is a structural schematic diagram of a system for selecting apublic land mobile network according to Embodiment 8 of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 8, the system for selecting the public landmobile network may include a mobility management network element 81 andan evolved base station 82.

The mobility management network element 81 is configured to provide PLMNinformation about a CSFB.

The evolved base station 82 is configured to acquire PLMN informationabout the CSFB and determine a target cell of a packet switchinghandover according to the PLMN information about the CSFB.

The functions of the eNodeB in Embodiment 1 of the present invention,the eNodeB in Embodiment 2 of the present invention, the eNodeB inEmbodiment 3 of the present invention, the eNodeB in Embodiment 4 of thepresent invention, and the eNodeB in Embodiment 5 of the presentinvention may all be implemented by the evolved base station 82 in thesystem for selecting the public land mobile network provided in thisembodiment. The functions of the MME in Embodiment 2 of the presentinvention, the MME in Embodiment 3 of the present invention, the MME inEmbodiment 4 of the present invention, and the MME in Embodiment 5 ofthe present invention may all be implemented by the mobility managementnetwork element 81 in the system for selecting the public land mobilenetwork provided in this embodiment.

In this embodiment, the eNodeB acquires the PLMN information about theCSFB from the MME, and the eNodeB determines the target cell of thepacket switching handover according to the acquired PLMN informationabout the CSFB, so as to be switched to the PLMN where the MSC/VLRattached by the UE in the EPS network is located, thereby avoiding anadditional processing delay of the CSFB procedure caused when an eNodeBselects a different PLMN for failing to perceive the PLMN where theMSC/VLR attached by the UE in the EPS network is located in the CSFBprocedure, and improving the service success rate.

It needs to be noted that the PLMN information about the CSFB in theembodiments of the present invention may include the followinginformation. For example, the PLMN information might relate to theMSC/VLR selected by the MME during a combined attach process or acombined tracking area update process of the CSFB. Alternatively, or inaddition, the PLMN information might relate to a CS domain selected bythe MME during the combined attach process or a combined tracking areaupdate process of the CSFB.

Those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that all or a partof the steps of the method according to the embodiments of the presentinvention may be implemented by a program instructing relevant hardware.The program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Whenthe program is run, the steps of the method according to the embodimentsof the present invention are performed. The storage medium may be anymedium that is capable of storing program codes, such as a ROM, a RAM, amagnetic disk, and an optical disk.

Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are merelyprovided for describing the technical solutions of the presentinvention, but not intended to limit the present invention. It should beunderstood by persons of ordinary skill in the art that although thepresent invention has been described in detail with reference to theembodiments, modifications can be made to the technical solutionsdescribed in the embodiments, or equivalent replacements can be made tosome technical features in the technical solutions, as long as suchmodifications or replacements do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system, comprising: a mobility managemententity (MME); and a base station; wherein the MME is configured to:receive an extended service request message from a terminal device,wherein the extended service request message includes a circuit switchedfallback (CSFB) indication indicating a CSFB; and send an S1 interfaceapplication protocol request message to the base station, wherein the S1interface application protocol request message includes a location areaidentity (LAI), and the LAI includes a public land mobile network (PLMN)identity, and wherein the PLMN identity identifies a PLMN of a circuitswitched (CS) domain; wherein the base station is configured to: receivethe S1 interface application protocol request message from the MME; andselect a target cell of a packet switched (PS) handover (HO) of theterminal device according to the PLMN identity.
 2. The system accordingto claim 1, wherein the MME is further configured to: select the PLMN ofthe CS domain during a combined attach procedure of the terminal device.3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the MME is furtherconfigured to: select the PLMN of the CS domain during a combinedtracking area update procedure of the terminal device.
 4. The systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the base station is further configured to:execute a PS HO procedure to migrate the terminal device to a 2G/3Gnetwork.
 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the S1 interfaceapplication protocol request message comprises an initial context setuprequest message.
 6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the S1interface application protocol request message comprises a UE contextmodification request message.
 7. A method, comprising: receiving, by amobility management entity (MME), an extended service request messagefrom a terminal device, wherein the extended service request messageincludes a circuit switched fallback (CSFB) indication indicating aCSFB; and sending, by the MME, an S1 interface application protocolrequest message to a base station, wherein the S1 interface applicationprotocol request message includes a location area identity (LAI) and theLAI includes a public land mobile network (PLMN) identity identifying aPLMN of a circuit switched (CS) domain; wherein the PLMN identityfurther identifies a PLMN to which a target cell belongs for a packetswitched (PS) handover (HO) of the terminal device.
 8. The methodaccording to claim 7, further comprising: selecting the PLMN of the CSdomain during a combined attach procedure of the terminal device.
 9. Themethod according to claim 7, further comprising: selecting the PLMN ofthe CS domain during a combined tracking area update procedure of theterminal device.
 10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the S1interface application protocol request message further comprises aninitial context setup request message.
 11. The method according to claim7, wherein the S1 interface application protocol request message furthercomprises a UE context modification request message.
 12. A mobilitymanagement entity (MME), comprising: an interface; a processor; and anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program to beexecuted by the processor, the program including instructions to:receive, using the interface, an extended service request message from aterminal device, wherein the extended service request message includes acircuit switched fallback (CSFB) indication indicating a CSFB; and send,using the interface, an S1 interface application protocol requestmessage to the base station, wherein the S1 interface applicationprotocol request message includes a location area identity (LAI) and theLAI includes a public land mobile network (PLMN) identity identifying aPLMN of a circuit switched (CS) domain; wherein the PLMN identityfurther identifies a PLMN to which a target cell belongs for a packetswitched (PS) handover (HO) of the terminal device.
 13. The MMEaccording to claim 12, wherein the program further includes instructionsto: select the PLMN of the CS domain during a combined attach procedureof the terminal device.
 14. The MME according to claim 12, wherein theprogram further includes instructions to: select the PLMN of the CSdomain during a combined tracking area update procedure of the terminaldevice.
 15. The MME according to claim 12, wherein the S1 interfaceapplication protocol request message comprises an initial context setuprequest message.
 16. The MME according to claim 12, wherein the S1interface application protocol request message comprises a UE contextmodification request message.